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How many great characters Disney has given us. Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy... endowed with charisma that characters from much more celebrated works only dream of at night. Unfortunately, this wealth of characters has been, over the years, at least in print, exploited in the same way. Short, self-contained stories of about twenty pages, set on the same rigid scheme, and - this is the most important limitation - strictly aimed at a very young audience.
Well, in 1996, a band of brave individuals - otherwise known as the PK-Team - proposed to change the state of affairs, venturing an innovative experiment: to make Paperinik the protagonist of his very own series, yet set in the style of American comics!
The first three issues - used by Disney to gauge the potential success of the series (as suggested by the unusual numbering: "zero slash one", "zero slash two", "zero slash three") - laid the foundations for what would be considered, along with Mickey Mouse Mystery Magazine, the most beautiful series produced by Disney Italy; the break from the universe described in Mickey Mouse is sharp and scorching and it's already evident from the depiction of Duckburg, which transforms from the cheerful little town with row houses we were accustomed to, into a chaotic and futuristic metropolis.
The same family and friendship ties that existed in previous adventures are only hinted at from time to time or are abandoned altogether: otherwise, the universe of PKNA is entirely new, and it introduces a series of new allies - it is impossible not to mention the artificial intelligence Uno, one of the best sidekicks in comic history, in my opinion - and new enemies finally suitable for a "serious" superhero comic: the terrible Evronians, wicked aliens whose only goal is to conquer and destroy with the cry of "power and might!" They might not shine in originality when choosing their objectives, but the rigid "imperial" scheme according to which their society is developed, and the way they feed - absorbing emotions from their victims - are certainly noteworthy.
Furthermore, if maturity is clearly achieved in form - with issues as large as those of American comics, written, drawn, and colored in an absolutely superb manner - and in the story's development, finally endowed with its own continuity, it is also noted in the content. For instance, the Evronians - who are the main threat of the series - are certainly no pushovers and have already exterminated entire planets - and forgive me if that's a minor point for a conservative company like Disney! - and even the themes addressed could even lead one to reflect: the relationship between man and machine (Donald Duck/Paperinik's best friend is a droid); the conflict between what is logical and what is right; the courage to face one's fears.
In short, a comic that, besides being an enjoyable series from every point of view, with hilarious jokes (also in the unforgettable mail corner, perhaps the craziest I've ever seen!), memorable characters, and an enviable atmosphere, also represented a small revolution that allowed a series like Mickey Mouse Mystery Magazine - which dared to go beyond the limits that PKNA was not allowed to surpass - to see the light of day.
Unfortunately, after only 4 years and 50 issues, the comic would conclude only to be poorly picked up with two series judged by critics - and by me, from what I've read - as simple garbage. No big deal: PK is history, and nothing will ever tarnish its glory!
P.S. To the reviewers who want to stop by just to leave a double one, I dedicate a quote from the legendary PK-Team, as well as a catchphrase throughout the series: "few girls around there?"
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